How To Activate & Deactivate VAS On Mtn, Airtel, Glo And 9mobile

If I may ask,

What may be the cause that after topping up your line, you discover that deductions are being made from your balance?

No much cap, this, however, just signifies that you have either Data auto renew, PAYG (Pay as you go) or VAS content service subscription activated on your line.

If you have Data auto renewal enabled on your line, it means that your data plan will automatically renew once it expires, drawing from your airtime balance to cover the renewal cost. This can be a convenient option for users who want uninterrupted data access without needing to manually renew their plans.

If you have PAYG activated, you will be charged from your airtime whenever your mobile data is turned on, whether in use or not.

AND

On the other hand, if data auto renewal and PAY AS YOU GO is not activated on your line and you still experience airtime deductions, it indicates that you’ve subscribed to one of the telecom company’s VAS content services. Some of these services require periodic fees, and these charges are typically deducted from your airtime balance.

VAS content services are subscription-based, which means that you pay for it as a subscriber. Charges are deducted when you top up your line and can be charged daily, weekly, or monthly depending on the service you subscribed to.

There are numerous VAS items available, such as religious activities, football gist, games, backups, ringback songs, video services, health conversations, and so on.

In a recent post, we delved into the concept of value added services (VAS) within the telecom industry, shedding light on what they are and their significance. In this article, we take the next step by providing a comprehensive guide on how to both activate and deactivate VAS content services from all major Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in Nigeria.

Value Added Services that I Adore So Much

1. Ringback tones:

Ringback tones also known as caller tunes, are a crucial component of the telephone experience that is frequently disregarded. These tones are heard by the caller when the phone of the call receiver is ringing, and they serve numerous functions, such as:

Indicating that the call is connected: One of the most basic uses of ringback tones is to notify the caller that the call is being connected. When you hear a ringback tone, it implies that the call is being processed and that the phone of the person you are contacting is truly ringing. This is especially beneficial when making long-distance or international calls, where the connection may take longer to establish.

Personalization: Ringback tones are not only a functional aspect of the telephone experience; they also provide an opportunity for personalization. Many telephone service providers allow users to select a song or other audio to play to callers while their phone is ringing.

This is an excellent method to distinguish your phone and make it represent your personality or mood.

Advertising: Ringback tones can also be utilized for advertising. Many phone service companies give caller-listening advertising while the call is being answered. This can be an excellent approach for businesses to reach out to potential clients while remaining less intrusive than other forms of promotion.

Entertainment: Finally, ringback tones can be employed to amuse the caller. Callers can listen to their favorite songs or other audio while waiting for the call to be answered, rather than the generic ring tone. This can make the wait more bearable and perhaps assist to pass the time.

2. Contact backup

This service allows subscribers to save contacts with their mobile network operators in the cloud. So, if your line goes missing, you can retrieve both your line and your saved contacts at the same time.

I no longer use this service because there are other third-party organizations, such as Google, that provide free contact backup. However, feature phone (button phones) users may still find this service useful.

How to activate and deactivate VAS on MTN, Airtel, 9mobile and GLO

Certainly, it’s important to be aware of how your airtime balance can be deducted due to VAS content subscriptions.

Sometimes, you may notice that your airtime balance has been deducted without your knowledge, and this might be because you are unknowingly subscribed to a VAS content service. This can happen when you receive unsolicited messages from mobile network operators. These messages can appear as pop-ups, and if you unintentionally click the “OK” button, it can lead to an automatic subscription to the service.

To manage these subscriptions, whether you want to subscribe or unsubscribe from a VAS content service and stop ongoing deductions on your balance, you can usually dial the specific USSD code provided in the table below…

Telco Company	VAS USSD Code
General USSD Code for VAS: All Networks. Learn more about New USSD codes introduced by NCC.	*305# (latest method)
MTN	*123*5# or *447# (Not available)
Airtel	*902# (Not Available)
GLO	*577# (Not available)
9mobile	*251# (Not available)

Once you’ve dialed the code, you will be presented with several options. Mobile network operators often provide a user-friendly interface for managing VAS services, allowing you to activate or discontinue them according to your preferences.

Here’s a

Step-by-step guide on how to Unsubscribe From VAS content services

• Dial the USSD Code: Start by dialing the designated code *305# provided by NCC and implemented by all mobile Networks in Nigeria for VAS subscriptions.
• Choose “STOP” or Equivalent Option: After dialing the code, you’ll typically be presented with a menu of options. Look for the option labeled “STOP ” or something similar, which indicates the choice to discontinue or manage your VAS content services. Select this option.
• Review Your Subscriptions: Upon selecting “STOP” you’ll be directed to the next screen. Here, you will find a list of the VAS content services to which you are currently subscribed to. This list provides clarity regarding your active subscriptions.
• Select the Service to Unsubscribe: Locate the specific VAS content service that you wish to unsubscribe from and select it. This step ensures that you\’re targeting the service you want to discontinue.
• Follow On-Screen Instructions: Once you’ve chosen the service you want to unsubscribe from, follow the on-screen instructions provided by your mobile network operator. These instructions may include confirming your choice or providing additional details.
• Confirmation: After following the instructions, you should receive a confirmation message that your request to unsubscribe from the selected VAS content service has been successfully processed.

If you’ve never subscribed to any VAS content service on your mobile line, you will receive a notification indicating that you do not currently have any active value added services. This provides assurance that you are not inadvertently subscribed to any services.

Taking control of your VAS content subscriptions is essential for ensuring that your mobile experience aligns with your preferences and that your account balance is not affected by unwanted deductions. By following the steps above, you can easily manage your VAS content services, activate or discontinue them as needed, and enjoy a more tailored mobile experience.

You will also be given the choice to activate a VAS service. To do that, simply dial the code provided so far on this article and follow the on-screen instructions.

Wrapping Up

Though value added services (VAS) are a useful tool in that they improve the experience of telephone users. However, the fees incurred for using these services might be utilized for more crucial items such as calls and mobile data subscriptions.

As a result, unsubscribing from the less important VAS content services will help reduce the deductions on your balance!